Our family traditions: Our yearly reunions are quite something! We get together to laugh, play and honor our ancestors.. we “thump goat pellets” exchange white elephant gifts and play Texas 42. There is always a jigsaw puzzle to work on, delicious food and many hugs to go around. My favorite is when cousin Trudy gets out her keyboard and plays for our “Sunday go to meeting” gathering. There is usually some brave soul who will volunteer to read a passage from the Bible and say a prayer for our safe travel back home. The gatherings are a little smaller now. We used to have almost 150 relatives attend. We are down to about 35. It is important to try your best to get everyone together once a year because you learn something new about who you are and where you’re “from”.. most of all you find out exactly where you are going and who will be in your corner of heaven in your next life. Hold your loved ones close in your heart and they will see it in your eyes. ❤️

My grandmother from Lometa Texas, Nollie Bell Hill Godwin

In this photo is Riley Godwin, Smitty Godwin Nollie Bell Godwin and White Foot

Riley Godwin’s bio:

He was born to the late Enoch and Nollie Godwin of Lometa, Texas on the 18th of April 1923. His married life of 56 years, to Yvonne Huepers of Alvin, was spent in Alvin. Mr. Godwin served in the 66th Black Panther Infantry Division, 264th Regiment, Company K in the United States Army. He served in the European Theatre during World War II as a machine gunner. When the war was over Mr. Godwin served out his time in the military police in Austria. He graduated from Texas A & M Agriculture College and taught as a vocational agriculture teacher at Alvin High School, where he started the first agriculture farm for FFA students. He was a past president at the Alvin Teachers Association, past president of the Board of Trustees of the Alvin Independent School District and served on the board for 24 consecutive years. On May 1, 1983 the Mayor and City Council proclaimed May 1st as Riley A. Godwin Day for serving his 24 consecutive years, which is seldom encountered, and that the board is the key to an efficient, effective educational system. He was a “force of nature”.

Ira “Smitty” Godwin’s bio:

Ira was born January 2, 1929 at the family home in Long Cove, TX (near Lometa) to Enoch Godwin and Nollie Bell Hill. Ira graduated from Texas A&M in 1951 and joined the USAF the same year. He served as a pilot and was a veteran of the Vietnam War. He then went on to become a family photographer for 20 years. He was always very active in his parish, St. Francis De Sales, and finally became the Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus at the age of 80. He provided many years of service to his church while mowing lawns, trimming trees, rebuilding gates, and collecting aluminum. He was also very active in his community where he lived for 45 years. He “adopted” his neighbors who had no family, took them food, weeded their yards, and kept them company. He raised money for his community center by tirelessly collecting aluminum cans and scrap for 15 years. He was a “force of nature”.

Nollie Bell Hill Godwin bio:

Nollie Bell Hill

Birth February 10, 1885 – Comanche County, Texas. Mother Kitty Bell Bishop. Father Pleasant Gideon “P.G. Hill.

Born in Comanche County, Texas, USA on Feb. 10, 1885 to Pleasant Gideon “P. G.” Hill and Kitty Bell Bishop. Nollie Bell Hill married Enoch Godwin and had 9 children.

Nollie met Enoch when both of their separate churches we’re collecting money to help the survivors of the horrific Galveston flood that occurred on August 27, 1900. They were married In Brownwood, Aug. 16, 1908, by Rev. George McCall. October 20, 1909 they were blessed with the first of 7 girls: Glenna Mae Godwin.